12 - Defiance

Chapter 12 (Defiance.)

Makita sat next to her mother and her other siblings on one side of the tent while other homesteads elder sat on stools on the opposite end. The burial would occur later in the day. The crying and the atmosphere made Tsote feel hollow and empty within. 

He walked back thought the people. He stood and thought. Today there was no training. She saw Sakitha N’meru and her father Renso heading out on wildebeests. They would send information to the brother Thalko about his sister’s death. They would ride out south for some distance before they released the Jodo bird. He saw them depart and sure that they could not see him, he slinked away slowly towards the River.  

The birds were no longer singing… this was strange. In last night’s dream, he recalled the birds were not singing. Waa this linked to the death of the great storyteller. They did not cry again for around seven days. The sun was rising and he could feel its warmth against his bare chest and arms. It was refreshing.

All of a sudden, he spotted movements at the other side of the river’s banks. He hardly could tell he was running. Today is the day the king arrived for his casual visits to the top of the hill? King Zakeyo was here again. Even though a day late from the usual times. It is as if he arrived earlier this morning because the guard’s camping tents were already up and the fires burning. Yakunko Guards taken their positions along the banks of the river. And the king’s boys and girls servants were collected at the base of the path leading uphill ready.

Tsote rushed over to the banks of the river but as he approached the river’s edge, he realize the deafening silence all around him in the trees! He slowed pace glancing up and all around him but not hearing the singing of a single river bird. Wherever they had all flown away to, he neither had an idea nor needed to know. However, this was very unusual!

This was similar to the last moments of his dream last night, he recalls! Wasn’t this linked to the death of the great storyteller? The king was starting uphill and Tsote need to join him if it were possible. The sun was rising and he could feel its warmth against his bare chest and arms. It was refreshing.

Tsote came to a halt a few inches from the water’s edge! He needed to call to his father. He needed his notice or maybe take him uphill with him today. He desired to see what mysteries lay on top this hill. After all, he was of the royal blood. Nevertheless, his father hadn’t recognized him yet. Not even, have to talk when he went to Sambura. With all the confidence in him, he yelled out across the river at his father…

“Father…!” but no one could hear him or even looked his direction. 

“Father, its Tsote. Can I –“

“He won’t hear you…” A voice said to him…

Tsote looked puzzled. Who was that! He glanced around. This voice he had never heard before but it was female. “Who is there?” he asked scanning around through the trees behind him.

“The river is enchanted with Vulko magic!”

“Who says so? Who are you? Show yourself!”

“Why search for me from a far. I’m here with you…”

“Where…?” Tsote asked looking around him in the sands for someone invisible as he assumed could be!

“The Beads…”

“What’s with the bea…-!” came Tsote in confusion just when it occurred to him. The beads were talking to him!

He looked puzzled and immediately wanted to tear them off. The beads started moving and struggling with him like arms clutching onto him. They had a certain form of power about them. He panicked just when the voice convinced him to calm down.

“What are you doing!” he asked the other. 

“I’m here to guide you. I’m your mother’s Olko beads.”

“But… you are just beads and I’m…”

“I’m more than just beads. And to understand better you will need to listen to me…”

“I don’t need your help.” He talked to himself while trying to tear the beads off his neck. Again the beads resisted him while tightening around his hands and pushing him aside.

“Yes you will need to.” The voice spoke from the depths of his mind. “Now listen…”

“What’s your name…?” 

“I’m, I’m nameless friend. Any name you please.”

“Friend?” Tsote asked himself in mind. 

“Yes…” 

“But Mama Erusa did not say you would talk or try to…” He thought to himself.

“She did not say lots of things because she knows less than I do.”

“I don’t need you to…” he spoke pausing for a second. “Wait a minute; you know what I will say before I...?”

“Not really. I only hear what you direct to me…” the beads replied.

“Liar…” Tsote stated quickly.

“Listen…”

“Silence…” Tsote commanded.

“Okay friend…”

This is when Tsote realized the King was gone. The voice may have been right but how possibly! Why couldn’t his father hear him this close across the river?

“We are not friends.”

“With time, we shall. That’s when you will learn my purpose…” The beads responded.

“The Vulko people are just stories…” Tsote stated stubbornly.

“Just because you have not seen, doesn’t mean something isn’t true…”

 “Were you there…?” Tsote asked them.

“Knowledge is channeled through the inheritance of the beads, generation to generation.” The beads told him.

“So you mean to say you know everything, answers to everything I need to know?”

 “I can answer only what you must...” The beads told him adding. To ease your quest because but your path is yours and yours alone to walk.” 

“My quest…?” came Tsote. What quest do you mean?”

“Well, I cannot say right now but come… my role is to guide you but not to lead you …”

“Okay so where is the path…?”

“Raise your head and look beyond this river bank where you have sat uncountable times wishing and hoping everything could fall where you heart desired. Look Tsote... Look! Your path leads where your heart has always desired…”

Everything else passed through his ears like wind. His gaze penetrated the fog at the peak of the ancient Kobewa hill. His heart raced with curiosity and a desire to discover. It was as if the hill called to him! He stood at the banks of the river and thought hard! He stepped out of his shoes and placed one of his feet in the running water. Nevertheless, before his toes could even meet the water, he shut his eyes tightly. 

He passed one toes through the water, its coolness sending a shiver and a wave of goosebumps up his whole body. He smiled slightly! A sudden rush of confidence and strength came with the chill in the water today. 

“…all the answers you need…” He recalled Mama Erusa saying to him in his dream. He shut his eyes and stepped down in the water. There is no memory or record that anyone walked five steps into River Ulewo and made it back to the banks in one piece. Why? It is and still is the most powerful myth in Tonyam. The rule was clear that no child below the age of sixteen must venture close to river Ulewo but parents quenched their children’s thirst with water From River Ulewo. Moreover, no one ever explained this but no child required an explanation because it was done under their ignorance.

Tsote will be making 15 years two days from now. Tsote occasionally visited the banks of the river from the day he started Kurota training and it’s the only rule he ever broke!

His smile grows when he finally sets his foot down into base of the water! It was shallow unlike his experience in his latest dream! He dared not open his eyes yet when he stepped forwards with his other foot. He reached up and touched the last gift he had from Mama Erusa… it gave him hope. He all of a sudden started forwards faster, his eyes shut.

When he reached the opposite banks of the river, there everyone about their own business and paid no attention to his landing. He though they would arrest him on spot after all everything here prohibited from the trespass of any other apart from the king. He though the guards would keep him in custody until the king returned. Most probably releasing him and being furious about how will they had treated one of his sons. He hoped and immediately rushed towards one of the guards most probably the one in charge of all the guards here.

“Mzeh?” The man did not see him or try to stop at his calling. Tsote stood in his way while he approached to whisper o one of the guards positioned along the water shores. Unfortunately, he passed right through the man as if he did not actually exist. Tsote froze in steps with his hands slightly raised in question. This was not right! What was happening! 

“Hahaha…” the voice laughed. What he did not realize was that he was the real one on this side of the river and that his footprints were visible in the sand. And the moment the captain of the guards started whispering to the first guards, his eyes fell on a line of child foot prints exiting the water. He glanced quickly across the river but there was fog on the other side of the river, which Tsote did not see until later. 

“You did that!” Tsote stated angrily still unmoved and in surprise.

“You have heard, these banks and the slopes are restricted from everyone except the king, your father and you as we speak are…” The voice told him. As the voice spoke, the two guards came closer following the footprints until they came to a standstill seven meters from the edge of the river! They looked at each other before they approached the spots, their shield and spears ready!

“If it’s you doing this, stop it because I only am here to speak to my father.” He spoke seeing his father and his servants approach the main watch point along the slopes. Trees rose high with bridging and twining branches that formed walkovers for the guards there.

 ”Father?” the captain of the guards focused at the last two foot prints and saw them move!

“No you are not going to because…” the beads spoke in a deep whisper.

“Stop this… I do not need beads talking for me to my father. Father!” He said yelling out to his father again and glancing back a little. This time his call met the king’s ears. The king came to a halt and turned to look back at the camp-sight…

He was standing face to face with guards and the moment they set eyes on him, the captain of the guards whistled! This is when Tsote saw six different dogs he last saw in Sambura guarding the way to the base of the palace. They were fierce and large like tigers! They rushed in around him snarling and saliva flowing. Tsote stumbled backwards throwing dust around. Tsote feared the Basha dogs more than he did the guards! He crawls backwards just stead enough to get back to his feet. He crouched with his arms out and eyes wide open in terror!

“Help!’ he yelled to the guards but his eyes focused on the Basha dogs which had drawn in closer than the guards around him. Therefore, there was no way he could make it out from the center of here! “I, I only needed to…”

“Run child…! Run!” The voice whispered into his ears.